Introducing: Music's Bold New Stars

Not to state the obvious, but beauty is a high priority at Refinery29: We cover it all, from the latest trends to the most innovative products to the gurus who share their hard-earned advice. But, to us, beauty involves much more than what meets the eye. The passion, the quirks, and the unique point of view of every woman we admire — that's what real beauty is made of.

So, to celebrate this ever-evolving concept, we're showcasing 12 women who challenge convention. That's why we teamed up with the beauty trailblazers at Revlon for our second installment of Beauty Nation: The New Provocateurs. You’ve met fashion’s rising stars; now, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the fiercest up-and-comers in the music biz.

Up ahead, you’ll get an exclusive look at 12 of the most boundary-pushing singers, songwriters, producers, and DJs out there. Whether they're baring their souls in a poetic piece of lyrical genius or shredding riffs that could blow the roof off Barclays Center, these women are shaking things up with their daring looks, their unconventional sounds, and their fierce determination. Read on, listen up, and discover the beautiful ladies behind some of music’s boldest sounds.

Kristine Barilli

There are DJs, and then there are people like Kristine Barilli, who live, eat, breathe, and sleep record culture (buying, selling, and playing). In fact, born and raised in The City That Never Sleeps, Barilli does a pretty amazing job of keeping everyone else up at all hours, thanks to a vinyl collection she’s literally curated from the far corners of the world (she was just in Utrecht, Netherlands, for the world’s largest record fair).

Barilli got her start at the legendary Beatrice Inn (the pre-Graydon Carter nightclub version) and spins everywhere from The Woods in Brooklyn to The Standard hotel. There are no pretenses — her DJ name is just, well, her name. And, her number-one goal at a party? It's less about earning any kind of cred and more about making sure everyone in the room dances their faces off.

The most daring thing I’ve ever done
"I’ve never had a real job, and I’ve only done music for a living. And, although I’m sort of broke, I don’t think I am. I just say to myself, 'You know what, one day, people are going to care about this stuff, and I’m going to keep doing it and be unapologetic about it.' I want to expose people to new music, and I think that’s daring. Maybe I don’t make a lot of money, but maybe I will one day. I don’t even want to entertain the idea of not doing what I love all the time."

What makes my music unique
"I like to play really kitschy, weird records that are undiscovered or forgotten about. I like to do what’s unfamiliar rather than what’s already been done. I want to be a tastemaker. I want to show people things, and that might be at the expense of my bank account, but that’s okay. I like to bridge the gap between genres and make people hear music in a way that’s different from how they’re used to hearing it. My sets sound like a perfect mix CD your best friend gave you!"

What I do to feel sexy onstage
"My whole persona is about being over the top. I try to be as creative as I
can with what I have, and be unapologetic about it. Everything I wear is
some sort of weird, crazy, glam-rock rejected item of clothing that most
people probably wouldn’t wear. But, I'm drawn to them because they're the
things — cultural reference points, music, pop culture, ephemera — that
inspire. Then, I reappropriate them to make 'em my own. It’s never about
what other people think."